Announcing The Adaptimax Plus Nikon to Sony PMW-EX3 Adaptor for DX & G Series Lenses

[Steve Shovlar]

The wait is finally over! But first I have to apologise for the delay in releasing the "Adaptimax Plus", but we have been so bogged down in orders from the Original "Adaptimax" that only now have we made the time (by working late into the night) to finally release the "Adaptimax Plus".

The Adaptimax Plus is almost identical to the Original Adaptimax, except we have added a custom made solid brass thumbscrew so that you can now open and close the shutter of DX and G Series lenses.

Before the release of the adaptimax Plus, owners of the DX and G Series were not able to use their Nikon lenses on the Sony PMW-EX3 as there was no way to set the correct exposure. Now it can all be done in seconds with a few turns of the thumbscrew, which activates the small lever on the mounting side of the Nikon lens.

So if you wanted to join the rush to own an Adaptimax, but realised your DX and G lenses were not sutable, think again. Now they will all work perfectly.

The Adaptimax Plus will work with all Nikon lenses which can mount onto the current Nikon mount. ( Just about every lens)

The price of the new "Adaptimax Plus" is £149.95 plus postage ($220 approx)
The price of the original "Adaptimax" is £119.95 plus postage. ($176 approx)

Postage is £6.95 UK and £9.95 Rest Of The World. ($14.50 approx)
This is with full tracking, insured and signed for on delivery.

If you have any questions I will be pleased to answer them.

Best regards
Steve Shovlar

http://www.cameraadaptors.com

[GuyB]

Well done Steve. If I had an EX3 I'd be ordering one right now.

[pressphotographer]

Steve,

Could you post some pix of the new adaptor to show how the thumbscrew works? I was all set to buy the competing mount so I'm very interested. Also is the new adapter available in black or blue? small point I know.

Dan

[Steve Shovlar]

Hi Dan, the Adaptimax Plus is in Red, just like the original Adaptimax. In fact it's exactly the same but for a custom made solid brass thumbscrew which accurately passes through the side of the Adaptor and activates the small ever on the Nikon lens.

Screwing the thumbscrew in opens the shutter of the lens, and screwing out shuts it. The length of the thumbscrew is designed so you cannot screw the thumbscrew in too far and damage the lens. The thread of the thumbscrew is fine so you can be very accurate in getting the exact exposure you require.

I am not sure how our rivals mount works as I haven't seen one other than a picture. It looks like the whole Nikon mount turns a little. Remember, there are no optics involved so both adaptors will give the exact same results. I am sure our rivals mount is built well. I am not here to knock the opposition.

What is important is that the Adaptimax Plus, just like the Adaptimax, is beautufully made. It is built of high grade Aluminium which has been precision CNC milled to the highest tolerances, before being de-burred by hand and anodised red. It has a solid brass Nikon mount which has been chrome plated for durability, a solid brass thumbscrew for getting accurate exposure and is a real bargain at only £149.95 (US$220). I guess you know what our rival is charging.

The original Adaptimax, which is for all Nikon lenses with external aperture rings, remains at only £119.95 ( US$176)

I will get some pics up as soon as I can this week but at the moment we are inundated with orders so assembling and getting those out is our priority for now. But pictures will follow.

Thanks though for all those who have ordered. We are currently working to a 7 day lead time with the Adaptima Plus, and have the original Adaptimax in stock for next day dispatch worldwide.

Best regads
Steve Shovlar

[EIREHotspur]

Like I said in the other post this is on my lists of extras to buy.

Why the blazes do you have it in Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool red though?

Was black in short supply or was there some reason for that garish colour??

[Steve Shovlar]

If you want it in black we can do it in black no problem. Just wanted it to be a bit different that's all. More a dark Zacuto red than Man U though!

In our next batch we will have red, blue, and black available to purchase, so should cover all bases ( or teams if you prefer.)

Would you like the Spurs crest on it? ( joke)

[GuyB]

I like the red, its the obvious choice for a Nikon adaptor with red being Nikon's colour too (well that swish they put on their cameras anyway)

[Steve Shovlar]

That was part of the thinking, and different lens makes for different colours.

However a few have asked for black so when we make the next batch there will be a choice, though thats a month or so away.

It's a dark red, not an Arsenal red.

[GuyB]

Hey Steve, on your web page you say "The Adaptimax and Adaptimax Plus give a magnification factor of X5.4 (X3.625 on the DX range of lenses)".

I am pretty sure that the magnification factor of both FX and DX lens will be the same (5.4x). The DX lens create a smaller image circle however a 35mm FX lens and a 35mm DX lens will produce the same image on a DX sensor (eg D90). By making a lens DX they can make it physically smaller and in theory it is easier to make them even wider (which only accounts for the 1.5x crop on the DX sensor), however it doesn't change the magnification factor.

Or am I missing something?

[EIREHotspur]

Well thats good to know you cover black as a colour.

Reason for getting one initially will be to fit a good wide angle lens for shooting property videos.
Stock Lens is not wide enough to take in rooms.

[GuyB]

Sorry to say that this is not going to give you anything on the wide end. The EX stock lens has a wide setting of about 31/32mm in photographic 35mm terms. To get that wide with an adaptor like the Adaptimax you would need a Nikon 5.8mm lens. The widest lens Nikon make is 12mm which will be like a 65mm lens on a 35mm SLR.

To use a wide Nikon lens and use its wide field of view you will need to use a relay system, those ones with ground rotating glass etc, quite expensive. Its a drop in quality shooting through the ground glass but its the only way to replicate the field of view of the lens.

May I suggest you look at either a wide 1/2" lens (maybe 4mm on the wide end) or a wide angle adaptor such as Sony's 0.8 for the stock lens if what you want to achieve is a wider field of view.

[Steve Shovlar]

Hey Steve, on your web page you say "The Adaptimax and Adaptimax Plus give a magnification factor of X5.4 (X3.625 on the DX range of lenses)".

I am pretty sure that the magnification factor of both FX and DX lens will be the same (5.4x). The DX lens create a smaller image circle however a 35mm FX lens and a 35mm DX lens will produce the same image on a DX sensor (eg D90). By making a lens DX they can make it physically smaller and in theory it is easier to make them even wider (which only accounts for the 1.5x crop on the DX sensor), however it doesn't change the magnification factor.

Or am I missing something?

OK I have just had a half hour break and compred a 3.5-4.5mm DX lens with a Nikon 35mm F2 prime. There is a difference. Take a look at the clip I have just stuck up on Vimeo of the compaison between the two lenses.

http://vimeo.com/4374626

Cheers
Steve

[Steve Shovlar]

Well thats good to know you cover black as a colour.

Reason for getting one initially will be to fit a good wide angle lens for shooting property videos.
Stock Lens is not wide enough to take in rooms.

As Guy has said, the Adaptimax is no use for wide angle. For wide angle I purchased the Sony wide angle adaptor, which is surpisingly good for the price.

Cheers
Steve

[EIREHotspur]

Thanks for that lads.

Are ye talking about the
Century Precision Optics 0HD-75CV-EX3 0.75x Wide Angle Converter Lens
or the Schneider one??

[Steve Shovlar]

Neither. I use this one.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/526428-REG/Sony_VCL_EX0877_VCL_EX0877_0_8x_Wide_Angle.html

Its well priced and has minimum barrel distortion. I haven't tested the other two to compare, though I have owned Schneider Optics wide angles before and they are excellent. Schneider and century are the same company.

[GuyB]

OK I have just had a half hour break and compred a 3.5-4.5mm DX lens with a Nikon 35mm F2 prime. There is a difference. Take a look at the clip I have just stuck up on Vimeo of the compaison between the two lenses.

http://vimeo.com/4374626

Cheers
Steve

I don't see a big difference & personally I'd expect that the DX lens wasn't accurately set at 35mm (most likely, the 18-70 DX, as a consumer level lens the markings arn't completely accurate). I have no doubt at all that on a DX sensors SLR, a 35mm DX lens should look identical to a 35mm Full Frame lens in field of view. By definition of the measurement, 35mm is 35mm... On a smaller sensor, the same applies.

[Steve Shovlar]

I do agree with you but have no accurate method of testing this theory. The DX 18-70 is the only DX lens I have and I had it set smack bang in the middle of the 35mm mark. There is no way of telling if these markings are spot on or are just printed on there as a guide. Obviously this is a cheap lens and there are some excellent DX lenses out there.

Looking at the footage there is not "that" much between the two images to say clearly there is a difference in magnification, so I believe you are correct and have removed that info from the site.

[MaxThomas]

This question may be better-suited to 35mm adapter makers/users, but I'll try it here:

I'm debating between buying the EX1 and EX3 within a couple of weeks, and I want to get a 35mm adapter at some point soon after that. The Letus relay lens for the EX3 is appealing, but far more money than I'd like to spend.

With your Nikon adapter, is it possible to use a fast, compact prime lens as a relay between the EX3 and a 35mm adapter? Provided it has a front thread size compatible with the adapter, and a focal length equivalent to the relay (after the crop factor of your adapter).

I may be completely missing the point/function of the relay lens, but if this works, it seems like a great way to get the benefit of it at a much lower cost (even for a very good prime).


Thanks,
Max

[Steve Shovlar]

Hi Max, I would love to test your theory but have no way of doing it. The letus relay looks sensational, but extremely expensive. but then again it is a pro piece of equipment.

I think the problem wil arise in the fact that you will have 5.5Z magnification, as well as focal lengths. If there is anyone out there who has one of my adaptors as well as a Letus, perhaps they could do a test and post the results.

Frustratingly I sold my Letus Extreme only a few months ago because it was sitting in the cupboard gathering dust. I just never or rarely used it in day to day shooting. In retrospect I wish I still had it.

[MaxThomas]

Well, after working it out a little more, I have a little more hope, but this is all still theoretical:

From what I've read, Letus Extreme users zoom into about Z77 on the stock EX1/EX3 lens to properly frame a 35mm image. Given that the stock lens is 5.8mm-81.2mm, 77% of that range places it at 58.1mm.

Voigtlander makes a very compact 58mm prime (See here at B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/534438-REG/Voigtlander_BA239BN_Nokton_58mm_f_1_4_SL_II.html)) with a 58mm front thread (supported by Letus). It's got high ratings on B&H, drawing comparisons to similar length Zeiss primes.

If that works, it seems like a great way to get some extra light and reduce the bulkiness of the adapter. This lens is even slightly faster than the Letus relay (f1.4 vs. f1.5). My only concern is focusing distance. I don't know how focusing on the 35mm adapters works; if it has to focus as close up as the ground glass, this one probably won't work. If you focus "past" the ground glass, this could work.


Hopefully someone with more experience with these adapters can shed some more light on this?

[LeftyLarry]

I was curious as to whether the price in post #1 was a special introductory price or have changing economic conditions caused the 30%-38% price increase shown for the various Adaptimax models.

Was there not a US distributor at one time?

[Steve Shovlar]

Hi Larry, I can answer that easily enough.

The first price was the introductory price to see if interest was there. It was. So we increased production. However, we looked at the Adaptimax and decided everything would be made "in house". The first version had a third party manufacturing the bayonet, and although it was good, we thought it could be better. So we now make the bayonet as well as the quick release mechanism. Last week the new version of the Adaptimax has been launched. Due to manufacturing costs the price has risen accordingly. We are not making more money per unit sold, just covering our increased costs.

We now make every single part of the Adaptimax here in the UK, except for the very small spring which is incorporated in the quick release. Rather than have three screws holding the bayonet in place, we now use four 2mm screws. It has now got to the stage where we don't think we can improve this adaptor any further. It works perfectly, looks fantastic and is guarenteed for 12 months no quibble.

As the new Adaptimax has only been released for the last week or so, we haven't yet had the opportunity to update the website with new images. This will be done in the next few days.

There are now 4 different versions of the Adaptimax.
We have the Original Adaptimax for Nikon lenses with external aperture rings.
Then the Adaptimax Plus, for all Nikon lenses including DX and G series lenses.
The Adaptimax Nikon to 1/3, which is for Sony HVR-Z7,JVC GY-HD 100 and 200,Panasonic HPX300. JVC GY-HM700 and Sony HVR-S270
and finally the Canon EF to EX3 is out next week.

When we started this business, our thoughts were to produce a good quality product at a cheap price point. This has now developed into to something for the better in my opinion. Our aim now is to produce the best possible product in terms of quality, at a price point which is honest and fair. The Adaptimax range are beautifully made and we are very proud of them as are our hundreds of very satisfied customers.

As for our US distributor, he has been doing a roaring trade. They are called Vortex Media.

http://www.vortexmedia.com/AdaptimaxPlus.html

But of course you can order diretly from us as we sell worldwide.

Best regards
Steve Shovlar

[LeftyLarry]

Thanks for the information, especially that the EF version is on the way. Now to decide which one to get as I have both Canon and Nikon lenses. Guess I'll have to do an inventory to see which one has the most useful lenses for me.......can't get both right now.

[Steve Shovlar]

Thanks for the information, especially that the EF version is on the way. Now to decide which one to get as I have both Canon and Nikon lenses. Guess I'll have to do an inventory to see which one has the most useful lenses for me.......can't get both right now.

Hi Larry, the Nikon Adaptimax has a big advantage over the Canon version. Both are made to the same high standard, but with the Nikon Adaptimax it's easier to change the aperture of the lens.

If you own Nikons with an external aperture, then all you need to do is open and close the aperture ring to get the correct exposure. If you own DX and G series lenses, the Adaptimax Plus has a thumbscrew which uses the lever on the camera side of the lens so you can adjust exposure. Of course the Adaptimax Plus can be used with Nikons with an external aperture ring as well.

The Adaptimax Canon EF to EX3 is similar to the Orginal Adaptimax for Nikon, except that Canon EF lenses don't have an external aperture ring, and they also don't have a lever on the camera side of the lens to adjust exposure. It's all done electronically through the Canon stills camera. So you have to set exposure on the Canon stills camera, then transfer the lens onto the Adaptimax. No easy way around it. It works perfectly but you have to go this extra stage. With Nikon lenses you don't have this problem.

The Nikon Adaptimax Plus covers all bases for Nikon lenses and you can future proof yourself by going this route, because if you buy new Nikon lenses in the future, it is guarenteed to work on your Adaptimax fitted to your EX3.

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Steve Shovlar

[LeftyLarry]

Steve,

Thanks for the discussion. You have confirmed what I pretty much already understood. The annoyance involved in using the Canon lenses is indeed a cause for concern. My situation, however, is that I have some Canon lenses with unique qualities - large aperture, tilt/shift. On the other hand my Nikon lenses are generally much older, but they are mostly primes and would probably have great resolution. That's why my decision is not easy. I am leaning to the simple Nikon mount as all my lenses are old-style and is it less expensive.

[Steve Shovlar]

Steve,

Thanks for the discussion. You have confirmed what I pretty much already understood. The annoyance involved in using the Canon lenses is indeed a cause for concern. My situation, however, is that I have some Canon lenses with unique qualities - large aperture, tilt/shift. On the other hand my Nikon lenses are generally much older, but they are mostly primes and would probably have great resolution. That's why my decision is not easy. I am leaning to the simple Nikon mount as all my lenses are old-style and is it less expensive.


That's the very reason the Nikon Adaptimax is much more popular.

As long as you have no plans to purchase Nikon DX or G series lenses, and all your Nikons have external aperture rings, you are good to go on the Original Adaptimax.

I just picked up a batch of 80 of them from our workshop this morning. As usual they won't last long. These are slightly different from the bayonts shown in the photos on the website in that we manufacture our own bayonets now with four 2mm screws holding it in place rather than three 1.6mm screws. We are getting some new photographs shot any day and we will have them up on the site soon.

Plus from the 1st October we will be using Fedex for fast worldwide delivery (and of course the cheaper Royal Mail service for those not in a rush to have it yesterday)

[Robert Ruffo]

Well, after working it out a little more, I have a little more hope, but this is all still theoretical:

From what I've read, Letus Extreme users zoom into about Z77 on the stock EX1/EX3 lens to properly frame a 35mm image. Given that the stock lens is 5.8mm-81.2mm, 77% of that range places it at 58.1mm.

Voigtlander makes a very compact 58mm prime (See here at B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/534438-REG/Voigtlander_BA239BN_Nokton_58mm_f_1_4_SL_II.html)) with a 58mm front thread (supported by Letus). It's got high ratings on B&H, drawing comparisons to similar length Zeiss primes.

If that works, it seems like a great way to get some extra light and reduce the bulkiness of the adapter. This lens is even slightly faster than the Letus relay (f1.4 vs. f1.5). My only concern is focusing distance. I don't know how focusing on the 35mm adapters works; if it has to focus as close up as the ground glass, this one probably won't work. If you focus "past" the ground glass, this could work.


Hopefully someone with more experience with these adapters can shed some more light on this?

I have found that the Redrock M2 encore gives very similar results to an Ultimate, for half the price. The Zacuto relay lens (even more $$ than an Ultimatte) still puts lots of glass before the actual 35mm lens. I have not seen visual comparisons, just Phil Blooms usual "rave reviews" of all that is Zacuto (can we really call thse reviews at this point? Isn't he an employee/partner there?) You lose the spinning glass, but is there really much improvement in IQ? Who knows. One side-benefit of any traditional adapter is that it works to increase dyamic range and protect highlights.

I think Zacuto's pricing is ridiculous. Pro gear, fine, but not double what everybody else is charging.